AHS Marching Band to host Tournament of Bands Competition

The sounds of trumpets, clarinets and base drums will echo through Middletown as the Appoquinimink High School Marching Band hosts a statewide band competition next week.

Jennifer Hayes

The sounds of trumpets, clarinets and base drums will echo through Middletown as the Appoquinimink High School Marching Band hosts a statewide band competition next week.
The competition will kick off Saturday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m. at Jaguar Stadium on Bunker Hill Road.
Ten high schools, which include Appoquinimink, Middletown, Smyrna, Caravel Academy, Concord, Glasgow, Laurel, Brandywine, Cab Calloway and William Penn, will perform their half time shows for the crowd and officiators from the National Judges Association.
Ryan Moseley, band director of the AHS Marching Band, said bands will be divided into a regional or championship category, and will fight for the title of Best Band, Best Percussion and Best Color Guard. AHS, as the host, will perform in an exhibition category and will only compete for a score.
Moseley said he wanted to host the competition because there aren’t many competitions in Delaware and this gives the bands an opportunity to learn from each other.
“It’s a great way to put us on the map,” he said. “It creates pride in the school, in their own music, in their marching and themselves.”
Moseley said the event will help fund the AHS Music Booster Organization.
“It helps provide a lot more money for opportunities to get materials that can really help the band be successful in the future,” he said.
Moseley said the AHS Marching Band has tripled since last year, shifting from 18 members to 56 members this year.
He said he hopes students watching the competition who have an interest in music will see what the marching band has to offer.
“We did an expedition for William Penn last year when we were a smaller band,” Moseley said. “It was great for the kids to see those types of things and they really enjoyed it. We’re looking forward to competing more this year, too.”
Moseley said the competition will be a fun event not just for the band but for community members as well.
“You get to hear a lot of good music from different genres and styles,” he said. “Plus, when you see bands compete against other bands, just like when sports teams are competing, it brings out the best in them. There’s just a lot of good music to hear.”
Caitlyn Tressler, drum major for AHS, said she and the other band members are excited to compete with other local schools, especially since they have so many friends at MHS.
“We’re all going to be supporting each other,” she said. “It’s really a big support group. I can’t wait to see the other shows this year.”
Tressler said she is proud so many community members are getting involved in the competition.
“It’s a big leap for us,” she said. “I think everyone’s excited about it. We don’t just to show off our school. We get to show off our community.”

IF YOU GO
What: Marching Band Competition, hosted by the Appoquinimink High School Marching Band
When: Saturday, Oct. 3; 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: Jaguar Stadium, Appoquinimink High School, 1080 Bunker Hill Rd., Middletown
Details: Tickets will be on sale at 5 p.m. The cost is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and students with I.D. Admission for children younger than 6 are free. Concessions include popcorn, hotdogs, pizza and sodas.
For more information, go to www.appohigh.org.